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One piece of miso butterfish on a Japanese-style plate with sliced cucumbers and radishes plus red chopsticks and a bowl of rice on the side.

Black Cod with Miso

Beth Lee
Black cod with miso, made famous by Nobu restaurant, is actually a Hawaiian classic dish as well. The fish, commonly called black cod, might also be labelled sablefish or butterfish. No matter what you call it, try it! You will not be disappointed.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Japanese
Servings 6 servings
Calories 111 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • ½ cup white miso paste or shiro miso
  • 3 tablespoons sake Japanese rice wine
  • 3 tablespoons mirin Japanese sweetened rice wine
  • ⅓ cup granulated sugar a bit less will work too if you are watching sugar intake
  • 6 pieces black cod or butterfish or sablefish about 1.5 pounds

Instructions
 

  • To prepare the marinade, heat the sake and mirin together on high heat to a boil for 20 seconds or so to remove the alcohol.
    Mirin and sake boiling in a pot on the stove.
  • Then turn the heat down to low and add the miso paste, using a whisk or wooden spoon to incorporate.
    Whisking miso into mirin and sake mixture.
  • Then turn the heat back up and add the sugar stirring constantly until it all dissolves, then remove from heat and let it cool. The whole process will take only 2 – 3 minutes stove time, at most.
    Pouring sugar into miso sake mirin mixture.
  • Once cooled, put the fish in a pan and slather it with the cooled miso sauce. Cover and refrigerate for at least 48 hours.
    Black cod marinated with the miso mixture in a glass pan.
  • To cook the fish, wipe off the marinade (if you don’t it will burn too quickly because of the sugars).
    Black cod marinated with miso mixture and ready to broil.
  • Place the fish on a foil-lined broiling pan. Broil it about 8 inches from the element until the surface browns (start checking at 5 minutes).
    Another example of the butterfish marinated and ready to broil on a foil-lined pan.
  • Once browned, check the fish for doneness. Stick a fork in and see if it easily pulls apart. It may already be done. If not, turn the oven to bake at either 400 degrees conventional or 375 degrees convection for about 5 minutes. Of course, the exact time will depend on the thickness of your fish. The butterfish I buy is usually thin. If you find thicker fish, it may take longer.
    Miso butterfish ready to eat but still on the broiling pan.

Notes

    1. Miso will last a long time in your refrigerator as will the sake and mirin. So grab all three ingredients when you have the opportunity and you will be ready to make this miso cod recipe whenever you find some fresh fish sablefish.
    1. I have marinated this black cod for up to 72 hours - so don't panic if you can't make it on the night you planned!
    1. The butterfish/black cod I usually find is pretty thin so don't walk far away when broiling/baking this. It will be ready quickly. If you find thicker fillets, expect a slightly longer cooking time.

Nutrition

Calories: 111kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 2gFat: 1gSodium: 922mgPotassium: 48mgFiber: 1gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 20IUCalcium: 13mgIron: 0.6mg
Keyword black cod, butterfish, white miso
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